Process of extracting copper.



No. 664,537. Patented Dec. 25, I900. J. DDUGLAS.

PRDCESS o'F ExfnAcTma COPPER.

(Application filed Sept. 22) 1900.! (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

JAMES DOUGLAS, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF EXTRACTING COPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,537, dated December25, 190

Application filed September 22, 1900. Serial No. 30.785. (No specimens.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES DOUGLAS, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processesof Extracting Copper from Copper Ore and Matte; and ldo hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. r

This invention has for its object the utilization of the chlorin or itscompounds evolved in the separation of copper from solid cuprous chloridby electrolysis for the extraction of copper fromcopper ores and coppermatte.

In Patent No. 563,144, granted to me June 30, 1896, a process forextracting copper from solid cuprous chlorid suspended in an electrolyteby electrolysis is set forth and the resultant products are metalliccopper, an acid compound of chlorin, which remains in the fluidelectrolyte, and chlorin or gaseous compounds of chlorin, which escapefrom the Vessel in which the operation is effected. This gas, which hasacid properties, can be absorbed by slaked lime, as in the ordinarybleaching-powder process; but I have discovered that it can also be usedas a solvent of copper by bringing it into contact with moistened copperore or copper m tte whether the ore and matte be oxidized or not. Theabsorption of the chlorin or chlorin compound by being brought intocont-act with the moistened copper ore or matte can be eifected in anyof the appliances usually employed for such a purpose; but I prefer tofill towers or large earthenware tubes with the absorbent and connectthem with the vessel in which the copper is extracting from the cuprouschlorid in the manner aforesaid.

While the process can be effected in a variety of apparatus, I preferthat shown, which is substantially the same as that illustrated in myPatent No. 563,144, herein referred to, with the addition of a tower ortube to receive the absorbent to be reduced. a

The vessel or vat l is closed by the cover 2 and receives the solidcuprous chlorid 3 and electrolyte 4, which varies under differentconditions. For instance, at one stage of the pounds of copper and othermetals.

process the electrolyte may consist of solid cuprous chlorid, into whichthe cathode is placed, and water slightly acidified with, say,-hydrochloric acid to enable it to conduct the current. As the processgoes on the current deposits metallic copper and liberates chlorin andchlorin compounds, and at the end of this a solutioncontaining acid andvarious com- The anode 5 is immersed in the electrolyte and the cathode6 is inserted in the cuprous chlorid. The tower, tube, or receptacle 8is connected with the vessel 1 by means ofa pipe 7. The copper ore ormatte 9 isplaced in the receptacle 8 and is dissolved by the chlorin orgaseous compound of chlorin evolved from the electrolytic separation ofthe cuprous chlorid in the vessel 1.

When the copper ore or matte 9 in the re ceptacle 8 is subjected tochlorin or gaseous compound of chlorin, the compounds of copper formedconsist in part of cupric chlorid, which is soluble in water, and inpart of cuprous chlorid, which is insoluble in water, but may bedissolved by a solution of any of the alkaline chlorids, such as chloridof sodium or chlorid of calcium, or by the acid electrolyte, which, asstated, is one of the resultsof the electrolytic operation in thevessel 1. If the electrolyte from the vat or vessel 1 be used todissolve the cuprous chlorid, the solution may be allowed to flow backinto the vat, where the copper can be deposited electrolytically.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new .is

1. The processof reducing copper ore and matte, which consists inelectrolyzing solid cuprous chlorid and employing the gases evolved inthe treatment of copper ore and matte, substantially as described.

2. The process of reducing copper ore and matte, which consists inelectrolyzing solid cuprous chlorid, employing the gases evolved Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature in the treatment of copper oreand matte, emin presence of two witnesses.

ploying the electrolyte resultin from the electrolyzing of the solidcuprou; ohlorid as JAMES U 5 a solvent for the cuprous chlorid soproduced, Witnesses:

and recovering the copper from the solution F. C. MAUSER,

by electrolysis, substantially as specified. GEORGE CHAPMAN.

